This blog contains most of my biking, trekking, running, eating and other tour experiences. I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel.. Guys enjoy reading... you can say your comments and experiences... Just go out there and make your own way.
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Part 1 : Rajasthan Trip ( Jaipur - Pushkar - Ajmer - Jodhpur)

We wanted this trip to happen for a long time now... Every time when a plan was made, had to cancel at the last moment. So planning for Delhi was out of my mind.

One day while chatting with my brother (Himanshu), he asked us to come to Delhi as he was going to stay in Delhi for few more months. and i was like Phire se cancel hoga.... (Will have to cancel again...). But at-last i was convinced for the Trip.

So deciding the route and days was very tricky as taking leaves was not a easy task with much of the responsibility at my head in office.. So finally the days were decided and leaves granted and did my bookings

Initial Plan was to do the Golden Triangle the only thing was left to decide the starting and ending points. As my better half Amrita was very keen towards Rajasthan, i wanted to extend the trip and give some more days to Rajasthan but being our little Angel Anisha with us i was not sure how she was going to react on so much of travelling. At-last the decision was to return to my Brothers home at Delhi, if beta was not felling well at any moment. So finally this trip was an
extended version of Golden triangle tour...

Golden triangle of India is a
tourist circuit which consists of three important cities of India - Delhi, Agra
and Jaipur . The triangle is easily accessible through rail, road and air.
These cities consist of most famous tourist attractions in India i.e. historical
monuments cultural festivals, etc. However my plans was to extend the
trip a bit more...So i was going to cover Jaipur - Pushkar - Ajmer -
Jodhpur - Agra - Fathepur sikri - Mathura - Vridhavan - Delhi..

Yes... its a long
trip... so i am going to narrate the trip in 3 different parts

Part 1 : Rajasthan
Trip ( Jaipur - Pushkar - Ajmer - Jodhpur)

Part 2 : UP Trip (
Agra - Fathepur sikri - Mathura - Vridhavan)

Part 3 : Delhi Trip

Day 0(Wed)-8 Feb 2017 - Train

I looked into the watch and the time was 19:00, me still at office.. ohhh... This Hand offs... what to do... Ok .. i will be on call in any case.. give me a call... Bye...

So much still to pack, whats i am forgetting.... Cash... Tickets.. locks.. Sandals... Done

Dinner... Done

Lets Go...

We reached Howrah Station at 22:30, The train left the Howrah station at exact 23:40

Train No.
& Name: 12307/HWH JU EXPRESS

From:HOWRAH
JN(HWH)

To:JODHPUR
JN(JU)

Scheduled
Departure:08 Feb 2017 23:40 *

Resv.
Upto: JODHPUR JN(JU) Scheduled Arrival:10 Feb 2017 06:35 *

Day 1(Thus)-9 Feb 2017 - (Night-Train)

The initial plan was to get down at the station whichever will fall in the next day morning, as the Train has a history of running 6 Hrs late on an average.. So on going on with that logic we will be reaching Jaipur in the morning. Even though we have a reservation upto Jodhpur, we have planned to get down at Jaipur. I had already booked a hotel in Jaipur for next day.

The Journey was comfortable with no problem.
Our sweetheart was also enjoying the Train ride and all the passing by things.

Day 2 (Fri)-10 Feb 2017– Jaipur – (Night-Jaipur)

We reached Jaipur at around 6 in the morning as anticipated 6 Hrs late. It was chilling cold at that time. We took a Auto from Jaipur station to the Sunder Palace Guest House, It was a nice hotel with lots of Rajasthani sculptures and traditional items located near the hitori Fort. It was a awesome hotel in Budget prices. we were having a check-in time of 11:00 AM but they have a nice roof top restaurant where you can relax and get freshened up.

We had Tea & breakfast there itself... the food quality was very good. By the time we had breakfast our rooms were ready. So we had a early check-in... the room was awesome.... very clean.. Later we came to know that we were the only Indian guests in that Hotel at that time.

We did a quick freshened up and started our sightseeing of Jaipur:Jaipur Brief History

Jaipur is the largest city
in Rajasthan and was built in the eighteenth
century by Sawai Jai Singh as India's first planned city. Jaipur is
a major tourist attraction amongst Indian as well as international travellers.
It belongs to the tourist Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and
Agra. It hosts several attractions like the City Palace, Govind Dev ji Temple,
Vidhan Sabha, Birla Temple, several massive Rajput forts and so on. It also
serves as a stepping stone for travelers heading to the desert cities of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.

Now Jaipur is growing fast and
various development projects are being undertaken by the government and private
enterprises. The town planning and infrastructure development in Jaipur is
quite above the mark relative to many other Indian cities.

Jaipur is often called the Pink
City in reference to its distinctly coloured buildings, which were originally
painted this color to imitate the red sandstone architecture of Mughal cities.
The present earthy red color originates from repainting of the buildings
undertaken for a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1876.

Our First stop for the day was Amber Fort.

· Amber Fort, (11 km North of central Jaipur,
local bus #5 from Hawa Mahal or New Gate), ☎ +91 14 1253
0293. 08:00-17:30. This massive fort-palace complex built in hybrid
Hindu-Muslim style dates back to Raja Man Singh and was the royal palace of the
Kachwahas from c. 1600-1727. The name has nothing to do with the rather pretty
pastel yellow colour; instead, the fort is named after the town of Amber, in
turn named after the goddess Amba.

The main sights within the fort include
the Sheesh Mahal, adorned with thousands on thousands of mirror
tiles on the walls and ceiling. The fort/palace grounds are sprawling and the
information panels (hindi/english) are somewhat limited, so it might be worth
getting an audio guide or a real guide. The real guide will cost about Rs
70-100 and will also take you to the Rajasthan Kala Mandir (a government
operated shop) to buy souvenirs. The guide gets a 2% commission on the items
you buy. Also see the Amber Light Show below. It's a bit of a
hike up to the fort from the town, but resist the temptation to take an
elephant ride to the top. Elephant rides are cruel to the animals and they are
often treated very poorly by their keepers, so it's best not to encourage the
practice. Rs 25/10 for Indian/student and Rs 500/100 for
foreigner/student. Included in the 5-monument Composite Ticket. Camera free.
Audioguides Rs 100.

Interesting Facts and Trivia About
Amber Fort

·Amber Fort
is a part of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

·The fort
and the town gets its name from Goddess Ambe, the prime deity of the Meena
dynasty.

·It is a
place that should be a must-visit for every Indian and for every art lover as
it is full of artistic marvels, be it paintings, carvings, architecture and so
on.

·The Amber
Fort Palace has four levels, each having a courtyard.

·The main
complexes within the fort are Diwan-i-Aam, a hall meant for public,
Diwan-i-Khas, a hall for private audience, the splendid Sheesh Mahal or the Mirror
Palace, Jai Mandir and the Sukh Niwas, a complex that had natural air
conditioning and this could happen because of the wind that blew across a water
area built within. It is definitely a sign of creativity and wisdom of the
time!

·It was
mainly used for residence purposes by the royal families, as opposed to Jaigarh
Fort, which was more of a defence and armoury location.

·A popular
attraction is a carving known as ‘magic flower’ which is carved on a marble
panel on a pillar in the Sheesh Mahal. Seven beautiful designs are carved on it
including a lotus, lion’s tail, scorpion, hooded cobra, fish tail, cob or corn
and an elephant trunk. You will have to cover the panel partially with your
hands to view each of the design. An artistic marvel, really!

·One of the
main attractions at Amer Fort is the Sheesh Mahal which has mirror mosaics and
coloured glasses all over. Even if a single candle is lit, its reflections in
the thousands of mirrors inside the Sheesh Mahal make it appear like thousand
stars. A visual delight!

The Next stop was Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort, (A 1 km walk uphill from
'''Amber Fort''', or Rs 100/200 for motorbike/auto-rickshaw), ☎ +91 14 1267
1848. 09:00-16:30. Never conquered in battle, this was considered the
strongest of the three forts in the area. It is best known as the site of the
world's largest cannon, the Jaivana, which was test-fired only once
— according to legend, despite using only the half the design amount of
gunpowder, the cannonball flew 35 km! A better reason to visit the fort,
though, are the scenic gardens at the other end and the spectacular views over
the Amber Fort and the hills around. The remains of the foundry where the
Jaivana (and many more) were cast are also in the fort grounds. Please note,
there are multiple board with "no tips allowed" if you have someone
bothering you. Rs 35/85 for Indian/foreigner. Included with the 1-week
City Palace ticket. Camera Rs 50. Video Rs 200. Automobile Rs 50.

Interesting Facts and Trivia About
Jaigarh Fort

·Jaigarh
Fort was one of the main cannon foundries during Emperor Shah Jahan’s rule as
there were many rich iron ore mines in the region.

·Did you
know that two former rulers of Jaigarh Fort, Major General Man Singh II and
Sawai Bhawani Singh also served in the Indian Army post Independence?

·The main
attraction of the fort is the Jaivana Cannon, one of the largest cannons at the
time, weighing 50 tonnes and having a 20.19 feet barrel and 11 inch diameter.
As the canno rests on four wheels instead of two, it could be turned in 360
degrees, thus making it possible to fire in all the four directions. Since,
there were no bitter relations with the Mughals then and there was peace, the
cannon was fired only once.

·Though a
strong and beautiful fort, it was never home to any rulers but was mainly used
for manufacturing artilleries.

·Built of
red sandstone, this is a fortified fort and still maintains its magnificence
and pride.

·It is the
watchtower that is the best place in the fort to be as it gives an astounding
view of the splendid environs.

·There are
two temples within the fort premises – Kal Bhairav Temple was built in the 12th century while the Ram Harihar Temple is a 10th century construction; a must-visit.

·Jaigarh
Fort was in news in 1977 when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was said to
have launched a treasure hunt in the fort premises. Though the search by an
army unit continued for three months, they didn’t find anything. Bad news for
others but good news for the fort as it was left undisturbed.

Traveller Tips

·It is best
to wear comfortable clothing as you will have to be on your feet for most of
the time. Wear comfortable shoes as well. Cotton clothes are preferable
considering the sunny weather.

·Carry
water bottles with you.

·The fort
is quite a vast structure and the passages are winding and confusing. So, take
care not to get lost in the fort. Take special care of kids.

·It is best
to avoid walking on the edges of the fort.

·Please
join in the efforts to keep the fort premises clean by not littering.

Nahargarh Fort, ☎ +91 14 1518 2957. The
smallest of the three forts, notable primarily for excellent views over Man
Sagar lake and the vast sprawl of Jaipur. The fort also houses the (relatively)
compact Madhavendra Bhawan palace, although its former splendour is fading fast
under a new layer of graffiti and pigeon droppings. Portions of the movie Rang
De Basanti were shot at this fort. To go the area where the
"Pathshala" song was shot, take a left turn as soon as you enter the
fort. An autorickshaw can be taken from the autorickshaw stand in front of the
Amber fort and a round trip will cost about Rs 250. Rs 10 entry. Included
in the 5-monument Composite Ticket. Rs 35 for Madhavendra Bhawan. Automobile Rs
10.

Some Facts About Nahargarh Fort You
Will Be Interested to Know:

·Nahargarh
Fort was built for defence purposes but it was never attacked by enemies. The
field guns stationed at the fort were never used for war but to indicate time
through firing.

·The most
spectacular part of the Fort is the Madhavendra Bhawan which had 12 identical
suites for each of the 12 queens of Sawai Madho Singh. There are stunning
frescoes in the interior of the building and there are connecting hallways to
the different rooms. It is said that the rooms for the queens were built in
such a way that when the king visited one of the queens, others could not find
about it.

·Nahargarh
Fort was also believed to be haunted and it is said that the spirit of a prince
named Nahar Singh Bhomia roamed about the place and hindered the construction
of the fort. It was then, Sawai Jai Singh promised to build a temple dedicated
to the price and also to name the fort after him to appease the ghost. After
that, the construction went on smoothly.

·During the
Great Uprising of 1857, the then ruler of the region Sawai Ram Singh provided
protection to many Europeans who were moved to the fort.

·Nahargarh
Fort is also a popular film shooting location. Some of the films shot here
include Rang De Basanti, Jodha Akbar, among others.

·Today,
Nahargarh Fort is one of the prime tourist destinations of Jaipur. At any time
of the day, it is a visual treat to watch the splendid palace stand in its
glory but in the evenings, the floodlit fort looks like a dream. You should
visit the fort in the evening when you can get a great view of the city with
lights on.

Jal Mahal (Water Palace), (On
the way to Sisodia Rani Garden). A Rajput style architectured palace
sits in the center of the Maan-sarovar lake. The lake is often
dry in the winter, but summer monsoons frequently turn it into a beautiful lake
filled with water hyacinths. Free on the 18th of May, as well as the
Observatory and wind palace. edit

Interesting Facts

·Lake Man
Sagar, home to Jal Mahal, lies in the north on the route from Jaipur to Amer,
and has a distinct quality about itself with the Aravalli Hills in the
background adding to its allure.

·Sharing
the common ground of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture and design, Jal Mahal
is a five-storey building built of red sandstone.

·Only the
top floor of Jal Mahal is accessible and visible, since the remaining four
floors remain submerged under the water of Lake Man Sagar.

·Jaipur’s
government continuously makes attempts to preserve and develop the area surrounding
Jal Mahal in order to maintain it as a tourist attraction.

·Jal Mahal
was originally constructed by Maharaja Madho Singh in 1750 for himself and his
companions to rest during their duck hunting endeavours.

·Maharaja
Madho Singh II developed the interior and exterior of Jal Mahal later on in the
18th

·Since the
palace was used more as a picnic spot than a residence, there are no specific
personal or common chambers.

Things to See

·Jal Mahal,
although just a picnic spot for the royal family of Jaipur, has a lot of
architectural brilliance in it, which is why it attracts a lot of tourists.

·Once
there, you can visit the Palace Chhatris which are domes of traditional Rajput
design, and will provide insight into the kind of architecture the royals of
Mewar preferred.

·The Chini
Burj is a dome in the interior, made of traditional blue Rajasthani pottery.

·The Pitli
Burj is a dome made of brass while the Aina Burj is a charming mirror dome with
a distinct allure.

·The main
attraction in all of the domes is the Shoba Burj, which boasts of typical
designs of Rajasthani jewellery.

·Jal Mahal
is home to a sprawling and rich garden known as Chameli Bagh, which has been
developed by the government and is now used as a platform for singing and
dancing performances.

·If you
wish to witness the true regal patterns of the Rajput rulers, Anand Mahal
Tibari in Jal Mahal is an example of intricate design made of blue and gold
décor.

·Raas Niwas
Tibari is the hallway that depicts art and paintings of Lord Krishna, while
Badal Mahal is filled with paintings of an overcast sky and rains.

·Gulab
Tibari adds to Jaipur’s identification of being the pink city, as it consists
of radiant pink colours across the hallway, making it a distinctly beautiful
decoration.

·Boating is
a popular activity in Lake Man Sagar, which gives an ethereal view of the Jal
Mahal during evenings

Maharaniyon Ki Chhatriyan

Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan

Gaitore (Gatore), (In the
walled city area named Brahmpuri, the foothills of Nahargarh Fort). This
is a royal cremation site of the royal rulers of jaipur.

With this our first day at Rajasthan was over and what a day this was Majestic Forts and Palaces... you can say as Paysa vasool.

We reached room at 7 PM. Had dinner and slept.

Jaipur : Hotel Sunder
Palace Guest House

Day 3(Sat)-11 Feb 2017 –Jaipur (Night-Pushkar)

This day was for the city
palace square which includes The city palace (Chandramahal pavillion), the Hawa Mahal
(from the backside, it's only a facade), Jantar Mantar and Govind Devji temple. First stop was Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal (Palace of Breeze). Built
in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Singh as part of City Palace. It was an extension of
the Zenana (women) chamber. It's purpose was to allow royal
ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen. It is a
five storey high red sandstone structure complete with over 950 windows. The
breeze (or hawa in Hindi) circulates through these windows giving the palace
its name. Free on May 18th. Rs 50. Included in the 5-monument Composite
Ticket. Camera free. edit

Interesting Facts and Trivia About
Hawa Mahal

·It was an
architect named Lal Chand Ustad who designed Hawa Mahal. Built in red and pink
sand stone, the Hawa Mahal is not actually a palace but more of a gallery, used
by royal women of those times.

·The
architectural style is a combination of Hindu-Rajput-Islamic styles. The fluted
pillars, floral patterns, lotus motifs, canopies symbolise Rajput architecture
while the filigree work, arches, etc are derived from Islamic architecture.
Nevertheless, the combination looks so amazing that you may want to spend hours
admiring the craftsmanship and beauty of Hawa Mahal.

·The
architectural designs also resemble honey comb.

·It is also
believed that the Hawa Mahal is shaped like Lord Krishna’s crown, as Sawai
Pratap Singh was an ardent Krishna devotee.

·You enter
Hawa Mahal complex through an imposing door, and you step into a beautiful
courtyard. There are two-storied buildings on three sides. Hawa Mahal is on the
east side.

·One of the
floors is actually known as Vichitra Mandir or the strange floor. It is said
that this was the favorite spot of Sawai Pratap Singh, who spend hours sitting
here praying to his favorite deity, Lord Krishna and composing poems in praise
of the Lord.

·To enter
Hawa Mahal, you have to go through the rear end and not from the front.

·Hawa Mahal
is a delight to look at when the early morning sunlight falls on the structure,
lighting it up it in its style.

·Hawa Mahal
is now under the care or ASI or the Archaeological Survey of India.

·A museum
is housed in the premises where ancient artefacts of Rajput rulers and region
are displayed.

·A unique
feature about Hawa Mahal is that it does not stand on a foundation, the tallest
such building in the world. Since there is no foundation, the structure stands
at a leaning position at 87 degrees.

·Another
interesting feature about the architecture is that though five-storied, there
are not stairs to reach the floors but only ramps.

Traveler Tips

·It is best
to visit Hawa Mahal early in the day as you can take a look around peacefully.
Later into the day, the streets get crowded.

·The museum
is closed on Fridays. So, if it is best to plan a trip on other days so that
you don’t miss out on the museum.

·Comfortable
shoes are a must as you will have to walk quite a bit and even climb many
stairs.

·There are
many low walls. So, walk carefully and adhere to safety instructions.

·Carry your
water bottles with you.

Jantar Mantar, (very close to the City Palace.), ☎ +91-141-261-0494, [7]. 9:00 a.m-4:30 p.m.. This
UNESCO world heritage site is the largest of five astronomical observatories
build by Maharaja Jai Singh during the period 1727-1734 in north India. The
observatory consists of fourteen major geometric devices (or yantras in
Hindi) for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits,
ascertaining the declinations of planets and determining the celestial
altitudes etc. There is signage providing elaborate explanations for the use of
each device, and guides can be hired to provide much the same information in a
more digestible format. The audio guide at the observatory isn't great and
doesn't tell you very much more information than the already existant signage.
The observatory, the water and the wind palace are free on the 18th of May. Rs20
for Indians, Rs200 for foreigners.

Interesting Facts

·Jantar
Mantar is one of the five astronomical complexes constructed by Maharaja Jai
Singh II, and the one in Jaipur is the largest and most well preserved.

·The
advanced instruments in Jantar Mantar were useful in predicting eclipses,
location of stars and the exact orbiting movements of the earth around the sun.

·The Samrat
Yantra aka the Giant Sundial, is the centrepiece of the complex, known as the
world’s tallest sundial with a height of 27 metres and a 6cm per minute speed
of shadow movement.

·The name
‘Jantar Mantar’ is derived from the Hindi words yantra meaning instrument and
mandir meaning temple. During the British rule in India, the names were
mistranslated which morphed into Jantar Mantar and have gained popularity that
way since.

·The
instruments were so designed for Pandit Jagannath, the advisor and guru of
Maharaja Jai Singh II, to help him create birth charts and predictions of major
events like deaths, wars, weddings etc.

·Similar
observatories called Jantar Mantar were created by Maharaja Jai Singh II in
four other places like Delhi, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura, with the largest
being in Jaipur.

·The
instruments were built through inspiration taken from the Islamic school of
astronomy, which was known to be the most advanced method of that time.

·Jantar
Mantar as an observatory was built as an example of the Ptolemaic positional
astronomy, which was common with many other civilizations.

·The three
major celestial coordinate systems are represented in the instruments, them
being: the horizon-zenith local system, the equatorial system and the ecliptic
system.

Things to See

·The
instruments in Jantar Mantar include the following-

·Chakra
Yantra, the instrument that gives the position of the sun at four different
times during the day.

·Laghu
Samrat Yantra is a smaller version of the largest sundial instrument.

·Rama
Yantra is a double cylinder instrument with capability of measuring the
celestial bodies and their positions and altitudes.

·Shastansh
Yantra is a 60-degree arc in a chamber helps measure the distance and diameter
of the sun.

·Unnatasha
Yantrais a metal ring which divides itself into four segments to be able to
measure altitude and distance of celestial bodies.

City
Palace, (Inside
the old city, close to New Gate and Hawa Mahal). An imposing blend of
traditional Rajput and Mughal architecture. It is a vast palace complex
occupying nearly one-seventh of the Pink City. It was originally built by
Maharaja Jai Singh II. The complex is divided into a series of courtyards,
sprawling gardens and buildings. It is home to several palatial structures like
the Chandra Mahal, (home to present Maharajah of Jaipur), Mubarak
Mahal (housing a textile museum), Diwan-e-Khas (or
Hall of Private audience housing the two largest silver vessels in the world,
which are duly mentioned in the Guinness book), the Diwan-e-Aam (
or Hall of Public Audience) and the gateway Ridhi Sidhi Pol (with
four small doorways decorated with motifs depicting the four
seasons). Foreigner: rs 500; valid for 2 days, includes entrance to
Jaigarh Fort and Royal Cenotaphs, does not include entrance to Chandra Mahal.
edit

Interesting Facts and Trivia about
City Palace

·The City
Palace was built by Sawai Jai Singh who is also known as the founder of Jaipur
City. The credit of Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar also goes to him.

·Though the
main architects behind the magnificent City Palace were Vidyadhar Bhattacharya
and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh also contributed to the
architectural design of the palace.

·There are
three main gates to the palace which are Tripolia Gate, Virendra Pol and Udai
Pol. There are also four smaller gates in the third courtyard, which are
believed to represent four seasons. The peacock or the Mor Gate represents the
autumn season and there are 3D models of peacocks at the gate giving it a
magical view. The Lotus Gate was to symbolise the summer season while the
Leheriya Gate for the spring season. The Rose Gate is the winter gate. All
these gates are decorated likewise and it is a sheer delight to just look at
these gates, and entering it is a bliss.

·Today,
there are two parts of the palace, one which is opened for the public and also
has a museum, and the other for the residence of the royal family, the
descendants who live here even now.

·One of the
famous items in the City Palace are two silver jars which have found place in
the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest silver vessels in the world.

·Apart from
Mubarak Mahal and the Chandra Mahal, there are Pritam Niwas Chowk, Diwan-i-Aam,
Diwan-i-Khas, Bhaggi Khana, Maharani Palace and the Govind Dev Ji Temple, an
18th century structure.

·The
Chandra Mahal, Maharani Palace and the Bhaggi Khana have been converted into
museums.

·Mubarak
Mahal is a museum dedicated to royal textiles. You can see the dresses worn by
queens and kings. The clothes worn by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I is quite a
treat to the eyes as he was believed to have weighed 250 kgs.

·Baggi
Khana is a place dedicated to chariots and coaches. The two prime attractions
are the chariot which was used to carry the royal deity and a European Cab
which was gifted to Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II by Queen Victoria herself.

·The
Silehkhana has a great and fine collection of weapons and handguns used during
the time. There are swords, knives, arrows, axes, and so on. The personal
weapons of the kings are also displayed here.

Traveler Tips

·It is a
vast complex and you will have to walk a lot. So, dress accordingly. Good
walking shoes or flat footwear are preferred.

·Drinking
water facility is available. So, there is no need to carry water bottles.

·The trusts
have undertaken care to see to it that the City Palace complex is disabled
friendly.

·Enquire
for guides at the entrance.

·Also, find
more about tickets as you may have to purchase individual tickets for the
palace and the museums.

Catch a bus from the Ajmer bus
stand or on the street opposite the railway station (ignore taxi drivers who
will say you have to go to the bus stand). It is 20 rs and takes roughly 30
minutes. From the railway station, exit to the front and walk the pedestrian
overpass to the opposite side of the street, the bus will pass by here.

Day 4(Sun)-12 Feb 2017 Pushkar- (Night -Jodhpur)

Pushkar is one of the oldest cities in India. Located to the
northwest of Ajmer, the tranquil city of Pushkar is a favoured destination for
thousands of tourists and devotees flocking to Rajasthan. Situated at a height
of 510 metres, Pushkar is surrounded by hillocks on three sides. The ‘Nag
Pahar’, literally meaning Snake Mountain forms a natural border between Ajmer
and Pushkar. Known as ‘the rose garden of Rajasthan’, the essence of the famous
Pushkar rose is exported all over the world. Along with an interesting
mythological history, a legacy of timeless architectural heritage makes Pushkar
a fascinating city.

According to legends, Lord Brahma, believed to be the
creator of the Universe dropped a lotus to the ground leading to the immediate
creation of a lake. He then decided to name the place after the flower, and
thus the name, Pushkar. The city of Pushkar is home to the only temple
dedicated to Lord Brahma in the whole world. Hindus consider a journey to
Pushkar to be the ultimate pilgrimage that must be undertaken to attain
salvation.

PUSHKAR LAKE

According to Hindu scriptures, the sacred Pushkar Lake is
described as ‘Tirtha Raj’, the king of all pilgrimage sites. No pilgrimage is
considered to be complete without a dip in in the holy Pushkar Lake.
Semi-circular in shape and about 8-10 metres deep, Pushkar Lake is surrounded
by 52 bathing ghats and over 400 temples and is truly a magnificent sight to
behold.

BRAHMA TEMPLE

Nestled in the picturesque Pushkar valley beyond the
Nangaparvat and Anasagar Lake, the Brahma temple holds a special place in the
hearts of Indians. It is the only temple in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma.
Built with marble and decorated with silver coins, this temple can be
identified by its red spire and the image of a swan (considered sacred to Lord
Brahma). The chaturmukhi (four faced) idol of Lord Brahma is housed in the
inner sanctum. A marble statue of the sun god stands sentinel at the temple.
Interestingly, while all the gods are shown bare footed, Surya is shown wearing
ancient warrior’s boots.

GURUDWARA SINGH SABHA

Gurudwara Singh Sabha, situated in the eastern part of
Pushkar, was built in the beginning of the 19th century to commemorate the
visits of the first and the tenth gurus- Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Govind
Singhji.

RANGJI TEMPLE

The gracious and conspicuous Rangji Temple is another
popular shrine that witnesses thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Rangji, believed to be an incarnation of Lord
Vishnu. The influence of South Indian style, Rajput style and Mughal style in
the temple’s architecture is highly noticeable. The high-rising ‘Gopuram’,
prevalent mainly in the temples present in South India is another feature of
the temple that attracts visitors.

SAVITRI TEMPLE

Dedicated to Lord Brahma's first wife, Goddess Savitri, this
temple is situated on a hillock right behind the Brahma temple. While climbing
the long series of steps leading to the temple, one can catch a panoramic view
of the lake, surrounding temples and sand dunes. The presence of the only
Brahma Temple in Pushkar is the outcome of Savitri’s curse to Brahma for marrying
another Goddess, Gayatri, while starting his yagna in Pushkar.

Reached Ajmer
in the evening.

The city of Ajmer gets its name from ‘Ajay Meru’. Roughly
translated, it means ‘invincible hills’. Nestled in the Aravallis south west of
Jaipur, Ajmer was founded by Raja Ajaypal Chauhan in the 7th century AD. Till
the late 12th century AD, Ajmer was the epicentre of the Chauhan dynasty. After
Prithviraj Chauhan’s loss to Mohammed Ghori in 1193 AD, Ajmer became home to
several dynasties. The Mughals in particular, fancied it as their favourite
destination due to the presence of the holy Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

One of the early meetings between the Mughal King Jahangir
and the Ambassador of the Court of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Thomas Roe, took place
here in 1616. A few centuries later, the city was handed over to the British,
making Ajmer the only region in Rajputana to be directly controlled by the East
India Company. Ajmer is now regarded as an educational and cultural centre.

Ajmer is home to the famous Dargah Sharif, which houses the
Tomb of Garib Nawaz, also known as Moinuddin Chisti, the founder of the Chisti
order of Sufism. Ajmer is also known for Mayo College, one of the country’s
first schools that was a stepping stone for British style of education. It is
also a sacred city for Hindus and Muslims alike and is renowned for being a
centre of history and culture and beauty.

SONIJI KI NASIYAN

Soniji ki Nasiyan, also known as the Ajmer Jain Temple, is a
wonderful example of ornate architecture, and is dedicated to Risabh or
Adinath. Its entrance is made of red stone and the marble staircase inside is
engraved with images of the holy Tirthankars – omniscient teachers of Jain
faith who taught righteousness. Constructed in the late 19th century, this
temple is counted among the richest temples in India. Its main chamber, Swarna
Nagari (City of Gold), is aptly named so because of the several gold-plated
wooden figures it houses within its walls. This famous architectural marvel
finds a mention in Kurt Titze's book, ‘Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the
Religion of Non-Violence.’

THE AJMER SHARIF DARGAH

This is a Sufi shrine which encloses the ‘maqbara’ (grave) of Garib Nawaz, the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. Built in the 13th century, the shrine is popular among people of all faiths who flock here to have their prayers answered. The shrine has three gates – the main gate or the Nizam gate, the Shah Jahan gate erected by the Mughal Emperor and the Buland Darwaza. Another big draw at this holy shrine is the sacred and scrumptious food that is served to devotees. Cooked in giant cauldrons known as ‘degs’, devotees gather in throngs to be blessed by this prasad.

ANASAGAR LAKE

Anasagar Lake is a scenic artificial lake, commissioned and built by Arnoraj Chauhan, son of Ajaypal Chauhan, between 1135 and 1150 AD. Arnoraj was also known as Anaji, which gives the lake its name. Many years later, Mughal Emperor Jahangir added his touch to the lake by laying out the Daulat Bagh Gardens near the lake. Emperor Shah Jahan too, contributed to the expansion by building five pavilions, known as the Baradari, between the garden and the lake.

Visit Darga
Khwaja Sahib

Ajmer - Buses leave
frequently from the Northern bus stand (near Milkman). Also seems to be some
from the Eastern bus stand. 20 Rs

Day 5(Mon)-13 Feb 2017 - Jodhpur- (Night -Train)

Jodhpur is the second largest city in
the state of Rajasthan, India. It is
called the Gateway to Thar, as it is literally on the edge of the
Thar desert. It is also called the Sun City as the sun shines
(very bright and hot!) almost every day of the year.

Toorji Ka Jhalara - Jodhpur's Historical Step-well

The Step Well Square is a mini-architectural tour with the Toorji's Step Well at the center, and almost 250 yrs of building traddition on view. Built in the 1740s, submerged for decades, its recent restoration uncovered over 200 hundred feet of hand carved treasure. Spend a few hours exploring this architectural wonder, and lunch, dine, sip or shop at the many restaurants and shops in the square.

Umaid Bhawan Palace. Clearly visible to the south of the
city and completed only in 1944, this is the last great palace built in India.
The Maharaja of Jodhpur lives here to this day, but half the building has been
converted to a 5-star hotel (see Sleep). Only paying guests are allowed inside
the hotel. There is also a small museum on the grounds (Rs.100 for foreign
tourists, Rs. 30 for Indians, Rs 10 for kids 5 to 11 years, open 9 AM to 5 PM).
There is not much of interest on display: some old photographs and china place
settings. Few vintage cars are also on display in glass enclosures.You'll have
to take a rickshaw to get here, and it's best to ask them to wait: figure on
Rs. 100 for a round-trip with an hour's waiting time.

Jaswant Thada, 1 km downhill from Mehrangarh (easily
walked - ignore the tuk tuk drivers who try to convince you otherwise, or lie
about walking not being allowed). Royal cenotaphs built in marble, with a
picturesque location next to a little lake. Entry Rs 30, plus Rs 25 for a
camera. It is also free on the birthday of the Fort (about the 12th of May).
The place is actually kept free of waste accumulating in corners and the lake.

Mehrangarh Fort[dominates
the city and is the largest fort in all Rajasthan. Founded in 1458 as the site
of Rao Jodha's new capital — hence the name, Jodhpur — the city has grown
around it, and in the 500 years that have passed the fort has never been taken
by force. It's easy to see why: it occupies the entire top of a 150 m hill with
commanding views all around, with some three kilometers of massive ramparts
built around the edges. An English owned company 'Flying Fox' operates a zip
tour out of the beautiful Chokelao Gardens within the fort. As for July 2015:
it is possible to go up to the fort and see the views of the city for free, but
to enter the palaces and museum you do need the tickets that are sold at the
entrance, Rs 600 for foreigners (see below all price details).

The name "Fort"
belies the size of the complex, which houses the Maharaja's palace, several
temples and, tucked away in the back, an extensive garden still farmed to this
day. Highlights within the palace include:

·Moti Mahal (Pearl Hall). Pearl-colored
inside and decorated with colored glass windows, this is where the Maharaja
held his audiences, with the five alcoves on the far wall allowing his queens
to listen in.

·Sheesh
Mahal (Mirror
Hall). Just what the name says.

·Phool
Mahal (Flower
Hall). The most extravagant of them all, this was the Maharaja's pleasure
chamber, for dancing girls and revelry.

·Zenana
Deodi. The
inner sanctum of the palace once guarded by eunuchs, this is where the
Maharaja's wives whiled away their days. The delicate sandstone screens and
carvings are exquisite.

·Chamunda
Mataji Temple. Tucked
away at the far end of the battlements, this temple is devoted to Rao Jodha's
favorite goddess and remains a local favorite to this day.

A number of people are employed
here and there to add flavor by dressing in period costume and doing photogenic
things like playing traditional instruments and smoke opium (yes, the real
thing). Snap away, but they'll appreciate a tip if you do. The museum also
includes galleries devoted to howdahs (elephant-mounted
seats), palanquins, fine arts, weaponry, and the inevitable Turban
Gallery.

An audio tour is included in
the entry fee of Rs600 (for foreign tourists, Rs400 for foreign students, a deposit
of Rs2000, passport, credit card or drivers license is required). Usage of
video is Rs200, still camera is Rs100. (July 2015). The audio guide is actually
quite good, and gives you information you otherwise wouldn't get from signs
within the fort. Some audio guide devices have poor batteries, which may run
out within minutes. Just take it back to the ticket office and they'll give you
another one.

Entry to the fort is free each
year on it's birthday (about the 12th of May), and is not as crowded as you
would think.

The fort is open daily from
09:00 to 17:00.

There is a set of stairs
leading down to the city below, tucked away between the entrance gate and and
the car park. Easily walked and shorter then the winding road.

Tips:

·Explore
the fort: If
you have the time, also venture deeper into the fort (outside the palace) which
will give you a more complete idea of it's size. You will also see the Chokelao
Gardens, which are located outside the inner wall and accessed through a gate
to your right (follow the signs for the FlyingFox). Cool and relaxant.

·Eagle
spectacle: Daily
from around 15:30 to 16:00, there is a person (young boy, sometimes a man)
feeding the eagles leisurely cruising around the tower opposite the Chokelao
Garden entrance by throwing pieces of meat from its top. Quite a spectacle, if
you have never seen 200plus eagles in one place.

·Outside
walk: You
can also walk outside the eastern side of the walls (to your left as you face
the entrance gate) on a sometimes overgrown path. It will eventually bring you
to a small temple on the southern end of the rock and will give you great views
of the walls towering above and the city below. Especially nice for early
morning photography. Police, though, warn of 'naughty boys' there and the area
shows evidence of evening/night activity. Also, dogs roam the area. At the
temple are two sets of stairs leading down to the old market area.

Mandore, 7 km outside the city. The ancient
capital of Marwar, before Jodhpur was built. It is open to the public free of
charge. The lower part consists of small temples and garden areas including a
river. Would be nice except for the usual waste. The upper part holds the ruins
of the old fort. No charge, but closed from 7pm to 7am. Good views. The little
museum does not hold much of interest.

Ghantaghar Clock Tower

It was
built by Maharaja Sardar Singh (1880-1911) from whom the market takes it name.
In fact, the tower dominates the entire scenario. It's a 70 mm cinemascope
with unknown and faceless humans in the lead roles for many tourists, most of
whom are filming it live.

3 comments:

Amazing experience you shared of your golden triangle trip. its really awesome and have so many good things to enjoy. Golden triangle tour with Jodhpur is one of the best option to visit famous monuments of india.